Predicting Patterns

Number Patterning involves:

• Counting by twos -- forwards and backwards.
• Counting by fives -- forwards and backwards.
• Counting by tens -- forwards and backwards.
• Counting by hundreds -- forwards and backwards.

eg., 2, 4, 6, 5, 7, 8 = add 2, subtract 1, add 2, subtract 1.

• Complex number patterning.

eg., 2, 6, 7, 21, 22.

• Have students add and subtract the numbers first, writing above the numbers.
  +4, +1, +14, +1
• Then have students multiply and divide the numbers, writing below the numbers.
  ×3, none, ×3, none.
• Circle the pattern or the numbers that repeat: ×3, +1, ×3, +1, so the pattern is ×3, +1.

Working with Number Patterns is a great activity to build thinking-skills.

Putting Patterns into Practice

Number Pattern Worksheets

See our Teaching Resources for Math for Number Pattern teaching and practice worksheets.

Return to Math Skills Index.

Paralyzed by Patterns

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